apt-get - APT package handling utility - command-line interface

Error Messages

E: Could not open lock file /var/lib/dpkg/lock - open (13 Permission denied)

An attempt is being made to run more than one package management process

This error may occur if an attempt to run more than one package management process is made. For example, if a package is being installed or removed using apt-get, or dselect, it should not be possible to run another package management tool, until the package updates are complete.

A non-root user is trying to add or remove packages

This error may also occur if a non-privileged (non-root) user attempts to add or install packages, or make a change to package status information within the package database.

E: Dynamic MMap ran out of room

This error may occur if the Apt::Cache-Limit is reached. It is necessary to add an entry to the /etc/apt/apt.conf configuration file to override the default value.

APT::Cache-Limit "33554432";

E: Error occurred while processing xfmedia-dev (NewVersion1)

E: Problem with MergeList /var/lib/apt/lists/foobar

E: The package lists or status file could not be parsed or opened.

E: Unable to lock the administration directory (/var/lib/dpkg/), are you root?

A non-root user is trying to add or remove packages

This error may occur if a non-privileged (non-root) user attempts to add or install packages, or make a change to package status information within the package database.

See also

apt-get selects packages based on your sources list, which is /etc/apt/sources.list

apt-get draws from three levels of packages: stable, testing, and unstable. for example, at the time of writing apache in stable was 1.3.26, testing 1.3.27, and unstable 1.3.28.

Try ?AptPinning if you want an unstable package on a stable Debian system. Beware, the unstable package might pull libraries with it, and you might end up with a "worst of" mixture of stable and unstable. Better search for a backport